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Forum Discussion
Decryption fails running iOS 14.2
Just updated iPhone and iPad to iOS 14.2. Now, trying to open an encrypted file, it tell me "Decryption Failed. Null" If I open with Excel, it works fine. Anyone else having this issue?
I also have success opening an encrypted file within Dropbox after updated 14.4 IOS update. Thanks for everyone's help and input.
The Excel Workbook will not open if it is passworded. Receive the same "decryption failed <null>" error message.
Excel and Word both work for me. Just Dropbox won't open an encrypted file. So, I click on the "open" button after I get the "Decryption Failed" and it takes me to Microsoft Word or Excel.
- Hello everyone, you will probably get better support from the Apple forums like: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252020203. Seems like someone was able to open a case for this exact issue from Apple. Another mention saving the file in the older 1997-2003 format works, but I have not tried this.
Hopefully a fix will be made sooner than later. The workaround right now is to install Microsoft Word/Excel apps on your iPhone so that you have the option to open those password protected files from dropbox when decryption fails. An blue “Open” button appears at the bottom of the file and clicking this will take you through to the Word/Excel apps. You will have to enter your password again in the apps, but this will allow you to access the file successfully.
I can assume from reading other posts here that the reason that we cannot open/create a ticket for dropbox to even investigate is because we have a basic plan and dropbox will not help us without a ticket. Thank you all for reporting having the same issue to try and help us make the case even though Dropbox seems to have not taken the next steps to investigate further due to lack of ticket. We did our job reporting it.
- Hi John. I have the same error message while opening Excel files with my IPhone 11 after installing new updates . How did you fix this problem?
- Really don’t know what to tell you. In Excel or Word, I’ve always been able to open encrypted files. My problem, after upgrading to iOS 14.2, I can’t open them in Dropbox, where they are stored. I simply switch to Excel or Word and sign in my password.
- Same problem, also with Excel files in Google Drive.
So I think this is a Apple problem.
Hopefully they get this fixed soon :-)Here's more breaking news for everyone. Just downloaded Big Sur to my Mac and guess what? Dropbox is gone! You have to re-download the Dropbox app, then it works again. I have the feeling that Apple and Dropbox hate each other!
JohnK2 I am not surprised as there have been loads of articles about it not working with the beta version of Big Sur. As with any new o/s, unless I have to I think I will wait for an interim release of Bug Sur before taking the leap.
- Same here. However, “customer service” is silent, very frustrating.
Simply, go to the App Store and re-download Dropbox. No need for Customer Service.
- Fino a alcuni giorni fa aprivo tranquillamente un file Excel protetto da password in lettura. Ora stesso file mi dice decreto fail (null)
Come posso risolvere? Ho aggiornato tutto e ho iOS 14.2 - I couldn’t open my encrypted files in drop box when i try to open description failed null error came
I need those files what can i do nowI did what others have suggested as a work around until DropBox fixes the problem.
My password protected files in DropBox are all Excel Files. They open just fine with the passwords on my desktop but not on my phone. I downloaded the Excel app on my phone. I gave it permission to link to DropBox files on my phone.
I can now open them in the Excel app (with the passwords) just as quickly and easily as accessing Dropbox. And the files can be emailed/copied/saved from Excel.
I hope your files can be opened with an app that you can do this same work around with.
Hi, I CAN'T OPEN AN EXCEL FILE PROTECTED BY A PASSWORD WITH AN IPHONE IOS 14.2. (IT NORMALLY OPENED IT UNTIL THE LAST UPDATE AND THE PASSWORD WAS CREATED WITH EXCEL INTERNAL ULTILITY)
I INSERT THE RIGHT PASSWORD AND DROPBOX REPLY "DECRYPTION FAILED (NULL).
(I TRIED ALSO WITH AN IPAD, NO WAY) WHILE IT'S POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE SAME FILE FROM MACOS 10.15.7, IT WORKS PROPERLY.
I ALSO TRIED TO CREATE A NEW PROTECTED FILE, UPLOADED ON DROPBOX, BUT AGAIN IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN IT.
HAS ANYONE FACED THE SAME PROBLEM?
THANKS
- Same issue
Oui, moi. C'est très embêtant car c'est un fichier que j'utilise bcp. Seule solution c'est de l'ouvrir avec excel, mais je trouve que ce n'est pas à nous, utilisateur, de subir ces contraintes. Il me semble que Dropbox devrait s'en inquiéter
J'utilise la traduction informatique: -0
Le problème racine n'est pas Dropbox, c'est Apple. Dropbox ne peut rien faire. Ne vous attendez pas à une solution de Dropbox ou de Microsoft ...De plus, cela pourrait être fait par Apple délibérément, vous devriez donc trouver votre propre solution. J'espère que vous pouvez lire ceci :-)
- Ditto, but no replies or “fixes” from the Dropbox people.
- So many people reported the problem but Dropbox has todate not replied or rectified the problem. Disappointing.
It's not a Dropbox problem, its not a Microsoft problem, its an Apple problem that first started with iOS 4.1 so don't expect anyone other than Apple to fix it. I just installed 14.2.1 on my phone and that did not fix it. The version notes did not mention this issue so I didn't have my hopes up too much.
If you are trying to open a Microsoft Office file (Excel, Word, Powerpoint) that is password protected, you will need to have Microsoft Office or the individual apps (Excel, Word, Powerpoint) on your device. I chose to install Microsoft Office instead of the individual apps just to cut down on the number of app icons on my screens.
If you want to test your devices ability to open a Microsoft password protected file without having Microsoft on your device, just email the encrypted file to yourself and try to open it from within the native Apple Mail app, do not save it anywhere on your device, just tap to open it. If Apple has fixed the issue, it will open otherwise you will get the blank white screen with the words Decryption Failed (null).
I am having the same issue today since updating to IOS 14.2
